Paddle-wheel.



7 Patented lune l2, I900. L. F. KENNEDY.

PADDLE WHEEL. (Application filed A s, 1900.

3 Sheath-Shea I.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR {WW l ama THE Nonms PnzRs 00 PnoTo-uma. wnsnmsmw. I:v c,

No. 65l,806-. I I Patented June 12-; I900. L. F. KENNEDY.

PADDLE WHEEL. I (Application filed. A i -s, mp0. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet a,

w W mg WITNESSES:

at one of the spokes.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC LAWRENCE FRANCIS KENNEDY, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

PADDLE-WH EEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,806, dated June 12, 1900.

Application filed April 3,1960. Serial No- 11,297. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE FRANCls KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, .have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paddle-Wheels; and I do hereby declare the fol lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to paddle-wheels and it consists of certain improvements in the construction of the same fully described in the following specification and claims and disclosed in, the accompanying drawings.

Some of the objects of my invention are to produce a paddle-wheel which will work as Well when submerged in deep water as in shallow water and whether to propel the boat forward or backward.

Another object is to produce a construction of paddle which combines all of the advantages of the old straight paddle with those of paddles having an oval face, or, in other words, to construct a paddle which will have the greatest possible driving power and at the same time be able to readily pass an obstruction with which it may come in contact such as grass, weeds, logs, &c.when the vessel is beingpropelled through shallow water. Yet other objects of my invention are to prevent lifting of the water as the paddle emerges and to enter the water with the least possible concussion, my paddle being so constructed that if in entering the water it meets with any movable obstructionthe paddle will push it aside and should the obstruction be rigid it will ride'over it.

My invention also contemplates a novel construction. of hub by which I attain the greatest possible strength without increasing the weight or adding intricate parts.

In the drawings, Figure l is an end view of my improved paddle-wheel with a portion of the circle-brace broken away. Fig. 2 is a side view of a portion of my paddle-wheel.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the hub. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line w a, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line 2 2, Fig. 1,

showing the hinges of the gratings.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line 1n n, Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal cross-section along the center of the paddle at a point midway between two of the spokes, Fig. 9 is a cross-section of one of the stars formed by the hub and the spokes.

Similar letters of reference refer to identical parts throughout.

A represents theradial arms or spokes of one of the centers or disks of my improved paddle-wheel, the outer ends being given a double slant, which forms an angle at the middle portion of the arm, as shown. The inner ends of the said radial arms are so constructed as to enter corrugations b, provided on the hub B of the center or disk of the paddlewheel. The main portions of the radial arms are preferably scalloped, as shown, to give lightness to the wheel.

The hub 13 consists of a flange 19, cast integrally with the main cylindrical core b provided with the serrations b and adapted to fit snugly on the shaft O of the wheel. The flange b is provided with openings 12 for the passage of bolts, the inner extremities of said openings being enlarged to enable the countersinking of the bolt-heads.

D represents another and larger flange, preferably made of steel, having openings registering with the openings 19 by means of which the two flanges may be rigidly bolted together.

b is a flange similar to the flange b and has a serrated central opening and is adapted to fit snugly on the serrated core b The large flange D' is bolted securely to the flange b in a similar manner to that already described.

The inner ends of the arms A are adapted to fit into the serrations b and between thelarge flanges D and D, after which the two flanges are drawn tightly against the sides of the arms by means of bolts and nuts, said bolts passing through all of the flanges and the arms, as shown. Additional bolts 19 are preferably provided, passing through the larger IOO and nuts, said bolts passing through the bands and the arms. Between the arms and within the circlebrace I secure blocks of wood or other suitable material to further strengthen the disk of the wheel, and preferably leave a small space, as at (2, between the end of each block adjacent to the arms adapt ed to receive a wedge e for the purpose of enabling wear to be taken up.

The paddles consist each of two blades F F, provided with a flat surface on the inner sides,

and are adapted to fit on the slanted ends of the radial arms A, as shown, preferably at an angle of forty-five degrees. The outer sur' faces of the blades F F are partly fiat and partly curved, the flat portion beginning at the circle-brace and extending midway of the blades, when it begins to curve, as shown, the

outer edges of the two blades coming togetherin a continued curve.

The blades of the paddle may be fastened to the radial arms in any desired manner; butmy preferred form of fastening is to provide a strap G, of metal or other suitable material, around the blades at the ends of each of the radial arms, and I pass bolts g, adapted to receive nuts thereon, through said strap and blades and close to the arms, on either side thereof, countersinking the heads of said bolts in the straps, as at 9. Between the blades and within the pocket which they form and on either side of the radial arms I pro vide angle-iron braces g g adapted to be en.-

gaged by the bolts g, and by this construction I am enabled to adj-ustably secure the blades to the ends of the radial arms, and thereby provide against shrinkage, wear of the parts, am, as the bolts 9 pass through the strap G and blades F F and also the bent- 1 up ends of the angle-irons g 9 after which "the nuts g are screwed on until the desired tension is acquired. Before placing the bolts 1 g through the ends of the angle-irons g I pass said bolt through the bent end of-anoth'er angle iron 9 a portion of which, as at g, is annular and provided with screw-threads. This portion of the angle iron passes through an opening in the projection g of a bracket I, secured to the circle-brace E. By this construction, after tightening the nuts on the boltsg' I am enabled to still further brace the paddle by tightening the nut t,

blades to the arms, I provide a strap G, adapted to pass entirely around the blades F F at a point between the radial arms, the ends of said strap being bent at an angle, as at h. A space is left between the bent portions near what 'wouldothe'rwise be their meeting-point,

openings to receive a bolt 72'.

tension "on thestrap 'G. As heretofore suggested, the peculiar arrangement of the blades RF with the radial arms forms a series of pockets to and from which it is desirable that the water should have free ingress and egress, but which should be protected against foreign substances, and I accomplish this in a novel manner, as will more fully appear. To either side of the strap G, as at a: 011:,is hinged a grating, (shown in sectional lines, Fig. 8,)

pocket. These gratings are made in the ordinary way with frame and cross-bars, one

"end being,-as before stated, hinged to the strap G and the other end being supported by a flange H, preferably of triangular shape and adapted to receive a bolt K, which passes through two of said flangeson either side of the radial arms and through eachradial arm. These'flanges serve to hold the gratings in proper place, and should it be required at any time to have access to the pocket the gratings may be opened onthe hinges as why removing the bolt K, when said gratings will naturally swing open, with the flanges H, by gravity. The side bars of the gratings next adjacent to the inner sides of the blades are made to fit snugly against said'blades, followingtheir slants, and form additional supports for the same between the radial arms.

In order that additional pressure may be exerted by the bolts on the flangesII H, I provide a projecting part L, secured to the arms at apoint nearer the hinges than the bolt 'K, which acts as a fulcrum to a lever, and by screwing up the nut K" on the bolt K I obtain a pressure which effectually prevents a loosening or jolting of the parts.

It is obvious that any number of radial armsmay be used, as well as anydesired numberof centers or disks.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, i s a v 1. In a paddle-wheel, the combination with ahub having a cylindrical core providedwith serrations, a flange rigidly connected therewith and a slip-flange adapted to fiton; said serrated core, substantially .as described.

2. In a paddle-wheel, the combination with a hub having a cylindrical core provided with serrations, of aflange rigidly'connec ted there- 'with, an auxiliary flange, a slip-flange adapted to fit on said serratedcor'e anda second 7 l auxiliary flange substantially as described. thereby creating a tension toward the center i of the wheel. To still further secure the 3. In a paddle-wheel, thecombijnation with a hub having a cylindrical core provided with serrations, of a flange rigid therewith, an auxiliary flange secured to said rigid flange and mounted on said core, aslip flange adapted to fit on said core, a. second auxiliaryflange secured thereto and radial arms, I I Y substantiallyas described.

and said bent portions are provided with H p I The space bei "tween the bent portions upon the bolt b may i befilled with suitable washers, asshown. By this means I am able to obtain any desired blades forming equal angles with the line of each grating covering about one-half of the the radial arms, the ou'terfaces' of said blades being partially straight and partially convex, substantially as described.

6. In a paddle-wheel, the combination with radial arms, of a paddle formed with double blades, a strap passing around the blades, devices for fastening the strap to the blades, and braces within the blades adapted to be engaged by the said fastening devices, sub stantially as described.

7. In a paddle-wheel, the combination with radial arms, of a paddle formed with double blades, a strap passing around the blades of greater width than the thickness of the arms, bolts passing through the strap and blades on either side of the arms, braces adapted to be engaged by said bolts, and means for retaining said braces and bolts in engagement, substantially as described. r

8. In apaddle-wheel, the combination with radial arms of a paddle formed with double blades, a securing device passing around the blades of greater width than the thickness of the arms, bolt-s passing through said securing devices and the blades on either side of the arms, a brace extending between the inner,

faces of the blades and adapted to be en gaged by the bolts, and supplemental braces also engaging said bolts at one end and being secured in any desired manner to a suit able part of the wheel at their other ends,

tance from each other, openings in said bent portions, a bolt adapted to engage said open ings, and washers adapted to be placed on said bolt between the bent-up ends, substantially as described.

11. In a paddle-wheel, the combination with radial arms of a paddle formed with double blades, and a grating covering the mouth of the pocket formed by said double blades and the arms, substantially as described.

12. In a paddle-wheel,the combination with radial arms of a paddle formed with double blades, and a grating made in two sections covering the mouth of the pocket formed by said double blades and the arms, said sections being pivotally mounted on a suitable support at their inner ends, and being retained in position by snitable'supports at their outer ends, said supports being secured to the arms, substantially as described.

13. In a paddle-wheehthc combination with radial arms of a paddle formed with double blades, a grating made in two sections, pivotally mounted on a suitable support at their inner ends, and flanges adapted to support the outer ends of said sections, said flanges being detachably secured to the arm, substan= tially as described.

14:. In a paddle-wheel,the combination with radial arms of a paddle formed with double blades, a grating made in two sections pivotally mounted on a suitable support at their inner ends to resilient flanges adapted to piv otally support the outer ends of said sections and being secured thereto, said flanges being removably fastened to the radial arms, and a bearing interposed between the arm and the flanges, at a point nearer the grating than the securing devices, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LAWRENCE FRANCIS KENNEDY. \Vitnesses:

E. A. PAUL, B. W. BROGKETT. 

